Matt Thornton
Encyclopedia
Matthew J. Thornton is a left-handed Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Chicago White Sox
. Before the season, Thornton was with the Seattle Mariners
.
, Thornton was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
in the 27th round but decided not to sign with them. Thornton played college baseball for Grand Valley State University
and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round as the 22nd overall pick in 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Thornton played briefly (only pitched 1 inning) with the Single A Everett AquaSox
in the Northwest League
. In and , Thornton was a starting pitcher with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
in the Midwest League
and showed improvement with his ball control and accuracy, striking out nearly 1 batter an inning. was probably Thornton's breakout year. Thornton started for San Bernardino Stampede in the California League
(high-A ball) and had a 14–7 record, along with a stellar 2.52 ERA
and 192 strikeout
s in only 157 innings pitched
.
Thornton was then promoted to AA baseball and played with the San Antonio Missions
of the Texas League
in . Thornton, still a starting pitcher, pitched well with a 3.63 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. In , Thornton was briefly sent back down to high-A ball with the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League
, but was quickly promoted back up AA ball with the San Antonio Missions
again. He started only 4 games, but posted an incredible 0.36 ERA, with a 3–1 record, gave up only 8 hits in 25.1 innings of work and struck out 18 batters. His performance got him promoted that same year to AAA ball with the Tacoma Rainiers
in the Pacific Coast League
. Thornton had a shaky start to his career in Triple-A ball, starting 2 games and posting an 0–2 record and a 8.00 ERA.
Regardless of his performance in those two final games of his season, Thornton stayed with the Tacoma Rainiers in . He posted a 7–5 record, along with a 5.20 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched.
debut on June 27, , with the Mariners in a game against the San Diego Padres
, pitching brilliantly over 4 innings, only allowing 3 hits and striking out one batter. Throughout the season, the Mariners used Thornton for mostly middle reliever duty, except for one game when Thornton started and pitched 8 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and walking and striking out 7 batters. Thornton finished the 2004 season with a 1–2 record and 4.13 ERA, striking out 30 batters in 32.2 innings of work.
The following year, Thornton served his reliever duties, pitching in 55 games with 57 innings pitched and posting a 5.21 ERA and striking out 57.
On March 21, , Thornton was traded from the Seattle Mariners
to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Joe Borchard
. Under the tutelage of pitching coach Don Cooper
, Thornton has emerged as a dominant bullpen force since joining the White Sox and is widely regarded as the best left-handed reliever in baseball. In 327 relief appearances with the White Sox spanning 299 innings, Thornton has compiled a 3.18 ERA, including a 2.55 mark in 2010. As of September 12 he led all eligible American League relievers with 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Thornton was selected by the coaches' vote to the American League All-Star team in 2010, the first All-Star selection of his career.
. In 2010, Thornton has thrown the fastball over 90% of the time. He also occasionally throws a slider, which he uses most effectively against right-handed batters. His fastball command is considered excellent.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Before the season, Thornton was with the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
.
College and minor league baseball
In the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
, Thornton was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the 27th round but decided not to sign with them. Thornton played college baseball for Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round as the 22nd overall pick in 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
.
Thornton played briefly (only pitched 1 inning) with the Single A Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. In and , Thornton was a starting pitcher with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays its home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...
in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
and showed improvement with his ball control and accuracy, striking out nearly 1 batter an inning. was probably Thornton's breakout year. Thornton started for San Bernardino Stampede in the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
(high-A ball) and had a 14–7 record, along with a stellar 2.52 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 192 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in only 157 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Thornton was then promoted to AA baseball and played with the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in . Thornton, still a starting pitcher, pitched well with a 3.63 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. In , Thornton was briefly sent back down to high-A ball with the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
, but was quickly promoted back up AA ball with the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
again. He started only 4 games, but posted an incredible 0.36 ERA, with a 3–1 record, gave up only 8 hits in 25.1 innings of work and struck out 18 batters. His performance got him promoted that same year to AAA ball with the Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. Thornton had a shaky start to his career in Triple-A ball, starting 2 games and posting an 0–2 record and a 8.00 ERA.
Regardless of his performance in those two final games of his season, Thornton stayed with the Tacoma Rainiers in . He posted a 7–5 record, along with a 5.20 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched.
Major League
Thornton made his MLBMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut on June 27, , with the Mariners in a game against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, pitching brilliantly over 4 innings, only allowing 3 hits and striking out one batter. Throughout the season, the Mariners used Thornton for mostly middle reliever duty, except for one game when Thornton started and pitched 8 innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits and walking and striking out 7 batters. Thornton finished the 2004 season with a 1–2 record and 4.13 ERA, striking out 30 batters in 32.2 innings of work.
The following year, Thornton served his reliever duties, pitching in 55 games with 57 innings pitched and posting a 5.21 ERA and striking out 57.
On March 21, , Thornton was traded from the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for outfielder Joe Borchard
Joe Borchard
Joseph Edward Borchard is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He last played in the major leagues in 2007. Borchard was the 12th pick of the first round in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft out of Stanford University by the Chicago White Sox...
. Under the tutelage of pitching coach Don Cooper
Don Cooper
Donald James Cooper is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball and the current pitching coach of the Chicago White Sox.-Early life:...
, Thornton has emerged as a dominant bullpen force since joining the White Sox and is widely regarded as the best left-handed reliever in baseball. In 327 relief appearances with the White Sox spanning 299 innings, Thornton has compiled a 3.18 ERA, including a 2.55 mark in 2010. As of September 12 he led all eligible American League relievers with 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
Thornton was selected by the coaches' vote to the American League All-Star team in 2010, the first All-Star selection of his career.
Repertoire
Since transitioning to the bullpen with the White Sox, Thornton has scrapped his secondary pitches and now relies heavily on a mid- to upper-90s four-seam fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
. In 2010, Thornton has thrown the fastball over 90% of the time. He also occasionally throws a slider, which he uses most effectively against right-handed batters. His fastball command is considered excellent.